Meet The Team
Mary Ann Vega
Director
Mary Ann Vega, Director. Moved to Alpine from New Orleans in 2021 and began working for Alpine Humane Society a few days later as Director of Enrichment at the Alpine Shelter and Director of Outreach at AHS. She has advocated for animals from a very early age, worked in many roles at veterinary clinics in Austin for decades, and became the Senior Animal Keeper and Office Manager at the Texas Zoo in Victoria, TX. Working with large cats, primates, and reptiles. Worked several years as the Rescue Specialist for Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Kendalia, TX. Then managed the busy, high-volume Nola Animal Clinic in New Orleans, LA, for almost ten years before moving to Alpine. In the last couple of years, Mary Ann has successfully stepped into the Director role, guiding Alpine Humane Society into financial solvency and expanding fundraising and community services.
Mary Ann lives with two senior large dogs, Dallas and Hammy, and a rescued Munchkin cat, Nanou, who rules the household.
Lisa Garcia
Thrift Store Specialist
Lisa Garcia, Thrift Store Specialist, came to Alpine Humane Society in 2021. She is our retail maven, with a real talent for researching items of value for resale, a fashion flair for vintage items, and a true rescuer's heart. She has fostered over 65 kittens for our organization and our sister organizations in the region. She also assists with TNR trapping to help the suffering of vulnerable community cats.
Lisa is an invaluable asset to our rescue community. She lives with her five cats, Mr. Man, Jaxon, Little One, Jo Jo, and Rae, as well as her chihuahua, Francis Bean.
Karen Sutterfield
Thrift Store Specialist
Karen Sutterfield, Thrift Store Specialist. Karen is our most recent addition to the staff in 2025. She assists with cashiering, sorting, pricing, and daily Thrift Store duties throughout our operations. She has several years of experience as a veterinary assistant, and is a life-long animal lover, having owned horses, dogs, and cats.
She lives with four cats, Pepper, Mischief, Candy, and Black Cat, and has recently added a rescue pup named Miga to her household. She brings much-needed levity to our day with her sense of humor and helps keep operations functioning daily.
Karen Collins
Thrift Store Specialist
Karen Collins, Thrift Store Specialist, is a retired teacher who began volunteering at the Alpine Animal Shelter in 2012 due to her love of dogs. While there, she discovered an affinity for cats, too.
In 2015, shortly after the Alpine Humane Society opened the Thrift Store and Cattery, Karen began volunteering there. After 10 years of volunteering, she became an employee. She oversees donations and does a terrific job at sorting, cleaning, and pricing items for resale.
She has two dogs, Ranger and Joey, and a guard kitty named Blitzen.
Karen is an integral member of the staff, and we are grateful to have had her with us all these years.
Meet Our Volunteers
Behind every happy adoption and every healed pet, there’s a volunteer whose kindness made it possible.
Ted and Heather raised a family in Colorado and then became full-time RVers, visiting exciting places like the Ark Encounter in Kentucky and Mount St. Helens in Washington. Their favorite place to visit was Big Bend National Park, where Ted served as a volunteer at the Castolon Visitor Center for five seasons. Ted and Heather were profoundly grieved by the neglect of animals which they witnessed
while serving Christian workers in a third-world country for a couple of years, which led to them volunteering at the Alpine Humane Society Thrift shop and meeting the marvelous staff who work so hard to care for kitties in the Alpine area.
Ted & Heather Griffin, Volunteer
Donna has volunteered at the Humane Society Thrift Store on Mondays for many years. She is retired, has a lifetime appreciation for dogs, and likes to play pickle ball.
Donna Ehrke, Volunteer
Each of these stories is made possible by people like you — everyday animal lovers who decided to give their time, energy, and heart.
When you volunteer, you don’t just help animals — you help hope grow.
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